Wanna get away?!
#becauseitsthecup
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
LeBron James is More Clutch Than You Realize
A deep-dive analysis of the NBA's most "clutch" players...
But, being "clutch" isn't purely defined by game-winners; it's about making the right basketball plays when it matters most, such as creating for your teammates, making shots, grabbing important rebounds and making key stops on defense.
And possibly the most important factor, something that seems to get overlooked, is making the aforementioned plays in the final minutes to ensure the game DOES NOT have to get to the point where a last-second shot is necessary.
LeBron may not be known for his buzzer-beaters, but there is no denying that he is one of the most clutch players in the game. Let's look at the NBA's best players this season, shall we?
Criteria: For sake of this exercise (and based on my personal belief), I have defined the "clutch period" to be in the last five minutes of the game when a team is either ahead or behind five points or less. I then took their stats during these periods and calculated them on a Per 36-minute basis to give us some sort of reference point if these players were to play an average game entirely entrenched in the aforementioned "clutch" criteria.
Results (per 36-minutes of "clutch" time):
Interesting stuff here. Yes, LeBron isn't as prolific a scorer in the clutch, but you should notice that he averages a TRIPLE DOUBLE - 28.5/11.7/11.2 - per 36 minutes of clutch game time. Furthermore, notice his FG% is better than noted "media clutch" players such as Kobe/Paul/Durant.
There are infinite ways to define "clutchness," but this is what I believe to be the most accurate. While LeBron may not score as much, he's also pulling down nearly 12 rebounds and dishing out more than 11 assists in this span - totals nobody else can match. Add in the fact that he's guarding the opposition's best player (no matter the position), he wins my vote for the most clutch player in the NBA.
Also...Kyrie Irving is insanely good. Cleveland has a propensity for young superstars. Let's hope they don't screw this one up.
But, being "clutch" isn't purely defined by game-winners; it's about making the right basketball plays when it matters most, such as creating for your teammates, making shots, grabbing important rebounds and making key stops on defense.
And possibly the most important factor, something that seems to get overlooked, is making the aforementioned plays in the final minutes to ensure the game DOES NOT have to get to the point where a last-second shot is necessary.
LeBron may not be known for his buzzer-beaters, but there is no denying that he is one of the most clutch players in the game. Let's look at the NBA's best players this season, shall we?
Criteria: For sake of this exercise (and based on my personal belief), I have defined the "clutch period" to be in the last five minutes of the game when a team is either ahead or behind five points or less. I then took their stats during these periods and calculated them on a Per 36-minute basis to give us some sort of reference point if these players were to play an average game entirely entrenched in the aforementioned "clutch" criteria.
Results (per 36-minutes of "clutch" time):
| Player | PPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG |
| Kyrie Irving | 41.3 | 47.8% | 32.1% | 78.9% | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| Kevin Durant | 39.7 | 39.7% | 31.8% | 90.8% | 5.3 | 2.8 |
| Chris Paul | 38.1 | 45.2% | 22.2% | 91.9% | 3.1 | 5.7 |
| Kobe Bryant | 37.0 | 43.9% | 33.3% | 87.5% | 7.4 | 4.2 |
| James Harden | 33.2 | 42.2% | 31.6% | 85.5% | 6.5 | 4.0 |
| LeBron James | 28.5 | 46.4% | 29.2% | 76.2% | 11.7 | 11.2 |
| Stephen Curry | 26.4 | 39.7% | 30.0% | 88.9% | 6.4 | 3.2 |
| Russell Westbrook | 23.9 | 35.7% | 25.0% | 91.7% | 5.9 | 4.0 |
| Tony Parker | 23.8 | 48.5% | 50.0% | 75.0% | 4.9 | 5.2 |
| Dwyane Wade | 19.3 | 50.0% | 0.0% | 58.1% | 7.0 | 4.3 |
Interesting stuff here. Yes, LeBron isn't as prolific a scorer in the clutch, but you should notice that he averages a TRIPLE DOUBLE - 28.5/11.7/11.2 - per 36 minutes of clutch game time. Furthermore, notice his FG% is better than noted "media clutch" players such as Kobe/Paul/Durant.
There are infinite ways to define "clutchness," but this is what I believe to be the most accurate. While LeBron may not score as much, he's also pulling down nearly 12 rebounds and dishing out more than 11 assists in this span - totals nobody else can match. Add in the fact that he's guarding the opposition's best player (no matter the position), he wins my vote for the most clutch player in the NBA.
Also...Kyrie Irving is insanely good. Cleveland has a propensity for young superstars. Let's hope they don't screw this one up.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
HBO's "The Newsroom"
I might have to go back and watch the pilot episode of "Lost," but tonight's series debut of The Newsroom on HBO was the most gripping, engrossing, television that I've seen in quite some time.
"Seriously, I have a blog?" was asked by Will McAvoy, played by Jeff Bridges Daniels, at the most unexpected moment and is currently my second-favorite meme behind "That's a clown question, bro."
No idea where I'm going from here. Maybe I'll blog my feelings? Might reduce my twitter activity, to the rejoice of many.
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